United Kingdom Entry Requirements - 2025 Updated Guide

United Kingdom entry requirements, including COVID-19 updates, visa requirements, and customs regulations, can be overwhelming for first-time visitors to the UK.

The UK is a wonderful destination that attracts travellers from around the world for various reasons. For example, there are plenty of fun things to do in Manchester - the musical capital of the UK and many wonderful places to visit in Wales - the land of castles.

Entering the UK requires travellers to have identity documents, and depending on your nationality, the requirements differ. This article aims to help you with everything you should know before travelling to the UK, from the latest entry requirements to useful guides at UK airports and border control. Here is what you should know:

Useful resources:

• Official UK Government website for the Passenger Locator Form
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Travel Advice for specific countries
• Travel to England from another country during the coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Before you leave for the UK 
• Check if you need a visa to visit the UK
• Travelling to the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
• UK Visa Application Services
• Foreign Travel Advice by Country

UK Entry Requirements: COVID 2024

Before travelling, double-check on entry requirements regarding COVID-19. Photo by Kzenon on stock.adobe.com

UK vaccine requirements regarding COVID-19 in 2024 are non-compulsory. There are currently no COVID-19 restrictions for entering the UK. However, it is suggested that travellers who currently have COVID should stay at home and avoid travelling to reduce the spread of the virus.

• Regarding filling out the UK Passenger Locator form, travellers do not have to complete the form when travelling to the UK from another country.
• Regarding testing and quarantine, both are not required for travellers who enter the UK. Most free COVID-19 tests are not available for travellers. If you suspect that you have COVID while staying in the UK, you can purchase test kits in shops.

For more support regarding health conditions in the UK, travellers can visit the NHS website (also known as the "National Health Service") to find a pharmacy, emergency care, general practitioner, and more.

COVID-19 is easily spread through close contact with people who have the virus. Therefore, travellers are recommended to practise the following precautions to avoid catching the virus while travelling:

• Do get fully vaccinated
• Do wash your hands with soap or use hand sanitiser before eating, after coughing and sneezing and after touching regularly touched surfaces in public spaces such as door handles
• Do cover your mouth if you need to cough or sneeze
• Do consider wearing a mask in crowded places where you are expected to be in close contact with people.

Travel Documents Required When Entering the UK

London is one of the most popular destinations in the UK  for travellers around the world to visit. Photo by alice_photo on stock.adobe.com

You are recommended to check all entry requirements in advance, whether you are visiting or transiting in the UK. It is necessary that you check for the latest updates on official sources such as the official website of the UK government.

As always, booking a consultation with relevant authorities such as the British embassy or consulate before finalising your travel details is useful for travellers. Now, let's start reviewing essential information regarding UK entry requirements with this detailed guide.

For British and Irish Citizens

• For British citizens, travellers can enter the UK with one of these two identity documents: a passport or a Gibraltar identity card.
• For British citizens who travel from Ireland to Northern Ireland, there are no documents required. 
• For British citizens who travel from Ireland to England, Wales or Scotland, travellers can use one of the following documents to enter the UK: a passport (current or expired); a UK citizenship certificate; a Gibraltar identity card (current or expired); or a clear copy of passport or Gibraltar identity card. 
• For Irish citizens who travel from Ireland to England, Wales or Scotland, travellers can use one of these following documents to enter the UK: a passport (current or expired); proof of Irish citizenship (e.g. a certificate of naturalisation); an Irish passport card (current or expired); or a clear copy of passport or Irish passport card.

Note: While expired passports and IDs can be used, please ensure they are recent enough for identification purposes. As they stated, “recent enough that it’s clear that it’s yours.”

For EU Citizens

For citizens from the EU, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, travellers can enter the UK with one of the following documents: a passport; an Irish passport cardl or a national identity card issued by one of the EU countries, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland or Norway. It is highly important that you check if you need a UK visa for your specific case before visiting. 

For Non-EU Citizens

For citizens from non-EU countries, travellers must have valid passports (valid for the entire stay) to enter the UK. Depending on your nationality, you might need a UK visa to enter.

Travellers can easily check for visa requirements on the official website of the UK government. According to the U.S. Department of State, the UK entry requirements for U.S. citizens are valid passports with at least one blank passport page for stays that are less than six months.

UK entry requirements regarding passport validity are that your passport must remain valid for your entire stay. The expiry date should be at least 6 months, starting from the day that you plan to arrive in the UK.

It is helpful to note that officials in UK Border Control might ask travellers for proof of onward ticket or return ticket as well as proof of sufficient funds.

For travellers who were previously refused by the UK Border officials, entry clearance might be required before entering and contacting the British embassy or consulate.

Visa and Electronic Travel Authorisation

To enter the United Kingdom, you will need a visa. Depending on your nationality, you can either apply for a visitor visa three months before your travel date or be able to visit without a visa and stay for six months. You can look up your nationality beforehand.

For visitors who do not need a short-stay visa, an Electronic Travel Authorisation will be required. Travellers are recommended to check the ETA scheme by the end of 2024. Travellers from the EU, Switzerland and EEA might be eligible to travel to the United Kingdom with a passport and without a visa.

• Visitors from Qatar have been able to get ETA since November 2023.
• Currently, only nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates can apply for an ETA beginning  1 February 2024. This will be extended to all visa-exempt visitors by the end of 2024.
• UK and Irish citizens, as well as those with certain other immigration statuses, do not need an ETA.
• The application costs £10 and requires basic biographical and travel information.

Items You Can Bring To the UK

You have to declare certain goods to customs before entering the UK. Photo by Darren Baker on stock.adobe.com

On one hand, having an international travel checklist is helpful before taking a trip to a foreign country. This can help you determine which items are essential and which types of clothing are suitable for the local weather as well as your planned activities.

On the other hand, knowing what you can legally bring through customs is a must to ensure a smooth travelling experience, especially at the border. Here is what you should know about items to bring to the UK. 

Items To Declare To Customs

Before your trip to the UK, you should declare goods online in advance, starting from 120 hours (5 days) before the arrival date. You must declare goods in the following situations: 

• When you go over the personal allowances approved for Great Britain or Northern Ireland
• When you carry banned or restricted items listed by the UK Border Force
• When you plan to sell or use items in a business

Banned And Restricted Items In the UK

If you bring banned or restricted goods into the UK against the law, they will be seized by the UK Border Force. It is helpful to always check the official guide on UK customs' policies regarding imported goods before bringing items into the UK. Here is what you should know about banned and restricted goods in the UK.

Banned goods that travellers cannot bring into the UK include: 

• Controlled drugs such as heroin, cocaine, cannabis, MDMA (Ecstasy), amphetamine, methamphetamine and barbiturates
• Offensive weapons such as butterfly knives, push daggers, self-defence sprays, stealth knives and electric shock devices. Firearms and replica firearms require licences and permits or are otherwise banned
• Endangered animals and plants, as well as goods made from them, such as ivory, caviar, coral and crocodile or alligator skin
• Rough diamonds that are uncut and unpolished without a valid certificate
• Indecent materials such as books, videos, magazines or software featuring children, extreme violence and pornography that are illegal in the UK
• Meat and dairy products from non-EU countries 

Restricted items that travellers cannot bring into the UK are as follows:

• Firearms, ammunition and explosives (unless there are special licences available)
• Food and plant products that are not free from pests and diseases, not for personal use and were not grown in the EU
• Items that are suspected of violating intellectual property rights (e.g. pirate copies of music and movies)
• Items protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (also known as "CITES") such as certain exotic leather goods or furs, foods and beauty products and medicines

What Do They Check At UK Border Control?

It is important to ensure that you have a valid UK visa, if required, to enter the UK. Photo by Richie Chan on stock.adobe.com

Going through border control is a crucial step for travellers who are entering the UK. The first and most important step is to make sure your travel documents are ready. If you are wearing sunglasses or a mask, you need to remove them at border control.

If you are travelling as a family, you should go through passport control together. UK passport control questions are usually about the reasons for your visit to the UK. Travellers do not need to fill in landing cards (also known as "arrival cards") when entering the UK. 

Entering UK Passport Control

For quick entry, travellers can use eGates, which are automated self-serving options that are used for passport control. It is important to note that travellers who use ID cards as identity documents cannot use eGates. For your reference, eGates are available in the following ports: